Seeing the magical token draw his blood, Leon raised an eyebrow, silently acknowledging just how cautious Addison was being. Perhaps she still doubted his true intentions, questioning why he had so forcefully tethered himself to her.
Maybe she suspected he was working with soone trying to infiltrate her territory. Or worse, she feared that soone, upon discovering their accidental mate bond, might try to use him as a pawn to get to her.
In a way, Leon couldn’t bla her.
He figured the token must be linked to a master token in Addison’s possession, one that allowed her to track his movents and verify his identity at any ti. If the token was stolen or misused, it would deactivate instantly. It was, in essence, a surveillance tool, ant to keep him under watch like a potential threat.
And yet... he couldn’t bring himself to resent it.
Despite its purpose, the token felt like a gift, Addison’s first and perhaps only, token of trust toward him. To Leon, it didn’t feel like a mark of suspicion, but sothing far more personal. It felt like a wife’s protective charm given to her husband. Bittersweet, yes—but sweet nonetheless.
Leon offered her a gentle smile, the kind that could lt even the hardest steel, anything, perhaps, except Addison’s heart.
As she glanced up at him, she saw his usually sharp, commanding features soften into sothing unexpectedly tender. For a brief mont, her heart did skip a beat.
But Addison wasn’t soone easily swayed by appearances or fleeting emotions. No matter how sincere or beautiful that smile was, it wasn’t enough to make her drop her guard or change her stance.
So instead of responding emotionally, she simply gave a small nod in return as he thanked her, while she looked all calm and composed.
Addison and the others erged from the camp, and Elric opened another portal leading back to the Royal Grounds. From the edge of their camp, Leon and the rest of the Tigren tribe stood watching silently as the group disappeared into the night through the portal.
The mont they crossed over, a wave of dizziness washed over Addison. Her body went soft, like jelly, and she felt herself about to collapse. Levi, who had been walking closest to her, moved without hesitation. With the crate balanced securely on his right shoulder, he reached out with his left hand and caught her before she could fall.
He had been quietly observing her every movent since they exited the tent. From the mont she shifted into her wolf form earlier, Levi had sensed sothing was wrong.
Though he had been surprised, awestruck even, to see her shift for the first ti, that feeling was quickly overtaken by concern. Sothing felt off, and that instinct had kept him close, ready to catch her the mont she staggered.
Fortunately, Levi had kept a close eye on her; if he hadn’t, Addison’s head might have hit the sharp corner when she collapsed. His heart pounded in panic as he imdiately shoved the crate into the Royal Advisor’s arms without hesitation. The unexpected weight made the Royal Advisor stagger slightly, and though he was about to complain, he caught sight of Addison’s condition and held his tongue.
"Take the Princess to her chambers," the Royal Advisor ordered instead, his voice tight with concern.
It was only then that the others turned around. They had each been preoccupied with their own thoughts, planning to drop off the crates at the Royal Alchemist’s door and then find Addison afterward. That was what Zion and Maxwell had in mind, while Lance seed lost in his own world.
None of them had noticed Addison’s weakening state, except Levi. He had worked beside her long enough to recognize when sothing was off, and that sharp intuition had kicked in the mont she staggered on her feet.
By the ti Zion and Maxwell moved to assist, Levi had already scooped Addison into his arms and strode away, his pace brisk and protective, almost as if he were afraid the two might try to take her from him.
Soon, Levi disappeared into the night, leaving Maxwell and Zion growling in frustration behind him. But he didn’t spare them a second glance; his only focus was getting Addison back safely. He headed straight to her palace, moving swiftly through the moonlit paths.
When the palace guards saw him approaching, they imdiately went on alert, ready to intercept him. But the mont they recognized Addison lying unconscious in his arms, their expressions shifted. Without hesitation, they stepped aside and bowed respectfully to Levi, allowing him to pass.
Inside the palace, a few startled servants paused at the sight of them, but quickly moved out of the way. It wasn’t long before Addison’s personal attendant appeared. Her eyes widened in alarm at the sight of her mistress, and she quickly led Levi to Addison’s chambers.
As soon as Levi laid Addison gently onto the bed, the attendant rushed to prepare warm water and cloths to wipe her down. Levi, thinking Addison had already completely lost consciousness, sat beside her, his arms still gently cradling her form. He leaned in and softly brushed his fingers through her long, silver-white hair, his expression a rare blend of tenderness and worry.
"I really can’t leave you alone, can I? You always push yourself too hard and end up like this..." Levi whispered, a worried sigh escaping his lips. His chest tightened as he looked at her pale face, brushing a strand of silver hair away from her cheek.
Suddenly, Addison’s eyes snapped open, startling him for a brief mont, but his expression remained composed. Instead, he offered a small, reassuring smile. "You’re awake. Are you hungry? Or do you want to take a warm bath to help your body relax?" he asked gently, already beginning to rise so he could call for her attendant.
But before he could move, Addison’s hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him down, pinning him beneath her with surprising strength.
"Addie?" Levi murmured, concern creeping into his voice. His brows furrowed as he looked into her eyes, bleary and unfocused, yet burning with a strange, ravenous hunger. Sothing wasn’t right.
"No," Addison whispered, her voice laced with exhaustion and... sothing else. A second voice seed to echo beneath hers, faint but unmistakable, like a distorted echo of her own. "I want you instead."
Levi’s brow furrowed. He didn’t know what was happening, but one thing was clear: Addison wasn’t fully conscious, and whatever was taking over wasn’t just exhaustion.
But before Levi could utter a word, Addison leaned down and kissed him, fiercely, hungrily, her lips parting his as her tongue slipped inside, claiming him without hesitation. Levi’s grip on his self-control faltered under the weight of instinct and rising desire.
"Addison... fuck, don’t push like this," he groaned, voice rough as he tried to gently push her away. "I’ll lose control..."
But instead of stopping, Addison rolled her hips against the growing bulge beneath her, making Levi’s breath hitch sharply. "Shit..." he gasped again, this ti his voice shaking.
Right then, the attendant returned with a basin of warm water and fresh clothes folded neatly over her arm. The mont she heard Levi’s strained voice and saw Addison straddling him, her eyes widened in brief shock, but she quickly lowered her gaze with understanding. Without a word, she bowed and quietly pulled the doors shut behind her, retreating to give them privacy.
User Comments
0 comments from readers